Nutritional composition for the treatment of pressure ulcers

Abstract

The invention pertains to a method of treating or preventing pressure ulcers, comprising enterally administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising proteins, carbohydrates, fats, arginine or equivalents thereof, ascorbic acid equivalents and a-tocopherol equivalents, wherein arginine or equivalents thereof is administered in a daily amount of 3-15 g, ascorbic acid equivalents are administered in a daily amount of 180-840 mg and a-tocopherol equivalents are administered in a daily amount of 50-400 mg.

1. A nutritional composition suitable for the treatment of pressure ulcers, comprising proteins, carbohydrates, fats, arginine or equivalents thereof, ascorbic acid equivalents and a-tocopherol equivalents and, wherein the composition comprises, in a daily unit dose, 3-15 g of arginine or equivalents thereof, zinc in a daily unit dose of 8-80 mg, copper in a daily unit dose of 2-10 mg, α-tocopherol equivalents in a daily unit dose of 50-400 mg, and 0.8-16 mg of carotenoids comprising xanthophylls. 
     
     
       2. The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein said xanthophylls are selected from lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin. 
     
     
       3. The nutritional composition of  claim 2 , wherein said carotenoids comprise 20-60 wt. % lutein. 
     
     
       4. The nutritional composition of  claim 2 , wherein said carotenoids comprise 1-15 wt. % cryptoxanthin. 
     
     
       5. The nutritional composition of  claim 2 , wherein said carotenoids comprise 1-15 wt. % zeaxanthin. 
     
     
       6. The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein said carotenoids further comprise 1-30 wt. % lycopene. 
     
     
       7. The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carotenoids comprise 20-60% lutein, 1-30% lycopene, 5-25% a-carotene, 5-40% β-carotene, 1-15% cryptoxanthin and 1-15% zeaxanthin. 
     
     
       8. The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises, in a daily unit dose, 180-840 mg of ascorbic acid equivalents. 
     
     
       9. The nutritional composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said xanthophylls comprise 1-20% lutein, 1-15% cryptoxanthin, and/or 1-15% zeaxanthin. 
     
     
       10. A nutritional composition suitable for treating pressure ulcers, said composition comprising zinc in a daily unit dose of 8-80 mg; copper in a daily unit dose of 2-10 mg; and carotenoids in a daily unit dose of 0.8-16 mg, wherein said carotenoids comprise 20-60% lutein, 1-30% lycopene, 5-25% a-carotene, 5-40% β-carotene, 1-15% cryptoxanthin and 1-15% zeaxanthin. 
     
     
       11. The nutritional composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises, in a daily unit dose, 180-840 mg of ascorbic acid equivalents. 
     
     
       12. The nutritional composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises, in a daily unit dose, 50-400 mg of α-tocopherol equivalents.